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_rusalka's review against another edition
3.0
I don't do this often or lightly, but strong domestic violence in this one if that is not for you.
joeri81's review against another edition
2.0
This is the first book I’ve read from Indridason and because the book received some good reviews I expected something nice from it. Unfortunately the book couldn’t deliver.
The book starts off with the discovery of a skeleton on a construction site. Inspector Erlendur and his team try to find out the identity of the victim and what actually happened to him/her in the past. Throughout the investigation we also follow the history of a certain family. It is quickly clear that this family is somehow linked to the skeleton.
I have to admit that Indridason can write; he provides smooth transitions between the present (the investigation) and the past (the family history). Especially the abuses in the past are described very credible and vivid, so Indridason did a good work on this. However it couldn’t save the book from a lot of hiatus. For starters, the book lacks any form of suspense. The story is told, but I never really had the urge to read to know what was going on (I rather had the urge to read to get it all over with). Suspense should be one of the key points in a thriller and it was utterly lacking.
Next to that, a book can become more interesting by the characters that it presents, but also at this point the book didn't provide. Especially the side characters lack all depth (e.g. Sigurður Óli en Elínborg). The main character, Erlendur, is more interesting. You get to know more about him and his life through the story about his daughter who is an addict and disappears during the investigation. I have to admit that this was worked out nicely ... but in the end it wasn’t all that interesting either. It wasn’t really compelling to keep on reading
There were also some excerpts and twists that bothered me in the plot. It’s pretty clear from the start in which direction you should find the origin of the skeleton. Indridason tries to spread some mist about this by adding an alternative story, but unfortunately not a very convincing one. Further, some actions of the characters were contrary to the logic of the story. These were especially added to drag out the investigation and the plot, even when they were very close to the solution. Also the dragging on of the excavation was a very obvious tool to drag the story on.
I’m not convinced by this book so I won’t be reading anything soon from Indridason in the future: only 3.8/10.
The book starts off with the discovery of a skeleton on a construction site. Inspector Erlendur and his team try to find out the identity of the victim and what actually happened to him/her in the past. Throughout the investigation we also follow the history of a certain family. It is quickly clear that this family is somehow linked to the skeleton.
I have to admit that Indridason can write; he provides smooth transitions between the present (the investigation) and the past (the family history). Especially the abuses in the past are described very credible and vivid, so Indridason did a good work on this. However it couldn’t save the book from a lot of hiatus. For starters, the book lacks any form of suspense. The story is told, but I never really had the urge to read to know what was going on (I rather had the urge to read to get it all over with). Suspense should be one of the key points in a thriller and it was utterly lacking.
Next to that, a book can become more interesting by the characters that it presents, but also at this point the book didn't provide. Especially the side characters lack all depth (e.g. Sigurður Óli en Elínborg). The main character, Erlendur, is more interesting. You get to know more about him and his life through the story about his daughter who is an addict and disappears during the investigation. I have to admit that this was worked out nicely ... but in the end it wasn’t all that interesting either. It wasn’t really compelling to keep on reading
There were also some excerpts and twists that bothered me in the plot. It’s pretty clear from the start in which direction you should find the origin of the skeleton. Indridason tries to spread some mist about this by adding an alternative story, but unfortunately not a very convincing one. Further, some actions of the characters were contrary to the logic of the story. These were especially added to drag out the investigation and the plot, even when they were very close to the solution. Also the dragging on of the excavation was a very obvious tool to drag the story on.
I’m not convinced by this book so I won’t be reading anything soon from Indridason in the future: only 3.8/10.
hel_conway's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the second book from the Erlendur series I’ve read.
The book is dark and there is detailed historical description of domestic abuse leading to murder which could be very triggering; coercive control, physical and emotional abuse. Unlike some reviewers I found the ending wasn’t predictable until the last 30 pages of the book so this kept the narrative tension and momentum. Also a sprinkling of information about Iceland in WW11 which I had no knowledge of before reading the book.
The book is dark and there is detailed historical description of domestic abuse leading to murder which could be very triggering; coercive control, physical and emotional abuse. Unlike some reviewers I found the ending wasn’t predictable until the last 30 pages of the book so this kept the narrative tension and momentum. Also a sprinkling of information about Iceland in WW11 which I had no knowledge of before reading the book.
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Book 2* in the Inspector Erlendur mysteries, this was another solid story. I had the mystery figured out well before the denouement, but I enjoyed watching Erlendur and his team figure it out.
* at least, this is book 2 per what I can find translated to English although it appears to be book 4 otherwise. The blurb on the cover indicates that it’s book 2 though too, so I am confused.
Content warning: severe domestic violence & physical abuse.
* at least, this is book 2 per what I can find translated to English although it appears to be book 4 otherwise. The blurb on the cover indicates that it’s book 2 though too, so I am confused.
Content warning: severe domestic violence & physical abuse.
mschwartz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
arlena_priscilla's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book in a local book store while I was in Iceland a few years ago as the author was listed on a giant table as being a local favorite. I haven’t read much “Nordic Crime” but this was a well paced, atmospheric mystery, albeit totally predictable. It was a good time, though I don’t know how entirely memorable it was.
silviaamaturo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
enelvee's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable end (I guessed it about halfway through) but kept reading because it was quite good writing.
lakecake's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
saltycorpse's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic second novel with a pretty messed up (but accurate) portrayal of domestic violence. Also a bit of history of Iceland's role in WWII.